3 1 6 Massee and Salmon . — Researches on 
the appendages serve to keep the spores in their relative 
positions in the ascus, and states that in some Sordarieae the 
uppermost spore is attached to the apex of the ascus. 
In species of Ascobolus, Ryparobius , Saccobolus , Sordaria , 
and Thelebolus we have observed that at maturity the spores 
are ejected in an agglutinated mass, often to a considerable 
distance. This ejection occurs equally in bright sunshine or 
in darkness. The sudden shooting out of the spores from 
the ascus appears to depend on the absorption of moisture by 
the mucus and consequent increase of volume. When a 
section of an ascophore containing mature spores is examined 
in the dry state no change occurs, but when water is applied 
the mucus in the asci is seen to swell and the spores are 
suddenly shot forth. If alcohol is used instead of water the 
spores do not move. In the species of Chaetomium and in 
Spamatoria the asci deliquesce and the mucus thus formed 
swells by the absorption of water and escapes, carrying the 
spores along with it, through the mouth of the perithecium, 
where it forms a ball which persists for some time until 
dissolved by rain or dew. 
Attempts on the part of De Bary (13), Brefeld (6), and 
Janczewski (18) to germinate Ascobolus spores resulted in 
failure, and the opinion is generally entertained that a passage 
through the intestinal canal of an animal is necessary to 
induce germination. The last-named author fed rabbits with 
bread containing Ascobolus spores, and observed that germi- 
nation had commenced when the dung was deposited. Our 
experiments have proved that Ascobolus spores will germinate 
without passing through the intestinal canal, nevertheless^ we 
believe that the majority of the spores of species of Ascobolus 
that eventually produce fruit on dung have been swallowed 
along with food by herbivorous animals. 
When the spores of species of Ascobolus are ejected, the 
mucus that holds them in a group sets firmly immediately on 
exposure to the air into a mass almost insoluble in water. 
For the purpose of obtaining pure sowings of spores, dung, 
bearing Fungi of the species required, was enclosed in a Petri 
